WASHINGTON — Nearly two years after a pair of at-sea disasters led to the deaths of 17 sailors, big questions remain on how safe things are for the nation's sailors.
Lawmakers grilled Navy leaders to see if they are following through on promised reforms.
The deadly USS McCain and Fitzgerald accidents in 2017 were horrific, and in the end, avoidable.
The question is, could it happen again?
Virginia First District Congressman Rob Wittman is worried.
"We have learned that the Navy allows ships to begin the basic and advanced deployment training without the required number of sailors," he said.
The House Armed Services' Readiness and Seapower Subcommittee heard testimony that the Navy is 6,200 sailors short for at-sea billets.
But, two top admirals said warships that aren't ready to deploy aren't getting underway.
"We do not ask a ship or direct a ship to go on a mission if they're not certified to do the job," said ADM Christopher Grady, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces. "I have made sure that is the case, and indeed there have been several occasions when I have said that ship is not ready, and we'll need more time."
Adm. John Aquilino, commander U.S.Pacific Fleet concurred.
"I also have terminated two deployments for units that were not assessed to have the appropriate level of training to deploy and execute their missions."
The Government Accountability Office reported last year that while improvements are being made in the Pacific Fleet, where the accidents happened, sailors are still being overworked and often lack proper sleep.
Virginia Second District Congresswoman Elaine Luria, herself a retired Navy commander, wanted to know if needed changes are in fact, being put in place.
"Do you feel the sense of urgency when you're implementing these actions, do you feel it has the appropriate sense of urgency and do you have the resources to apply the sense or urgency that this deserves?" she asked.
Admiral Aquilino responded: "Yes, I believe we're taking the right actions, yes ma'am."